Wade apologizes for reference to ‘World Trade’

MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane Wade issued an apology Monday to those who may have been offended by his use of the phrase “World Trade” while answering a question about the upcoming Miami Heat season.

The All-Star guard made the remark Sunday before the annual charity basketball game he co-hosts with Alonzo Mourning.

Standing at his locker before a group of reporters, Wade said:

“There’s going to be times when we might lose one, two games in a row, maybe two games, three games in a row, you never know. It’s going to seem like the world is crashed down. You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade has just went down again. But it’s not going to be nothing but a couple basketball games lost and we’ll have to get back on track.”

On Monday, before leaving on a flight to Los Angeles for some television appearances — he was previously booked to talk with Jay Leno — Wade issued an apology through the Heat.

In the statement, Wade said: “In an interview yesterday, I attempted to explain how some people may view the Miami Heat losing a few basketball games in a row during the upcoming season. It appears that my reference to the World Trade Center has been either inaccurately reported or taken completely out of context. I was simply trying to say that losing a few basketball games should not be compared to a real catastrophe.

“While it was certainly not my intention, I sincerely apologize to anyone who found my reference to the World Trade Center to be insensitive or offensive.”

AOL Fanhouse initially reported the guard saying: “If we lose a couple in a row this season, it will be like the World Trade (Center) is coming down again.”

Hours later, AOL Fanhouse published a different version of the quote, citing a transcription error and an editor’s note saying, “we deeply regret the error.”